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Healthy Heart

According to the American Heart Association, heart disease is the leading killer of Americans today, and heart attack is the most visible sign of heart disease. Atherosclerosis is the underlying process that causes most heart disease. It begins early in adulthood, but it may be decades before clinical disease shows up. That's why more effort should be focused on prevention.

Just as a whole family feels the pain when one of its members has heart disease, recovery is something of a group project, too. When parents, spouses or siblings have to change behaviors-breaking bad habits and learning good ones-they need the support and encouragement of those around. Adopting a heart-healthy regime together is one way of doing this.

Along with helping the patient, families that adopt healthy practices may be sparing themselves heart trouble down the road. It has long been apparent that heart disease runs in families; children whose parents had heart attacks or other cardiovascular conditions relatively early tend to be at more risk for such disease themselves. But the cause may not be all genetic. Behavior-influenced factors have been found to increase cardiac risk factors such as, diets high in saturated fats, tobacco smoke, physical inactivity, obesity, overweight and diabetes mellitus. Other factors such as stress, birth control pills, and too much alcohol can also play a role in heart disease. Decreasing sex hormones, as a person ages, can contribute to heart disease by affecting the cholesterol levels, especially in women, thereby increasing the risk for heart disease.

Studies show that people are more likely to reduce their risk factors for heart disease (such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol levels and smoking) if their spouses or significant others do the same. So the life you save through encouraging a heart patient to eat right and exercise may be your own, if you practice what you preach.

What are some other things a family can do to help a member who's trying to recover?

• Learn about the heart-Learning about how the healthy heart works and the factors that affect heart attack risk can help you better understand a loved one's condition and help a loved one comply with his or her treatment plan.
• Participate in therapy-Training in physical rehabilitation techniques can help you take an active role in you loved one's recovery and express your emotional support. Inquire at the hospital's coronary care unit for available classes and training.
• Know heart attack symptoms-Everyone, children and adults alike, should become familiar with these common signs of heart attack: pain, squeezing, or pressure in the chest; shortness of breath, paleness, dizziness, vomiting; and shooting pain that may travel from neck, jaw, shoulders and/or arm. If a person experiences even one of these symptoms, get emergency medical help immediately.
• Learn CPR-If your loved one should suffer another heart attack, knowing cardio-pulmonary resuscitation may make a life-and-death difference. Older children and adults should all be trained in CPR in order to act quickly in an emergency.

The American Heart Association is closely associated with The Mended Hearts, Inc., a nationwide patient support organization comprising people with heart disease, their families, medical professionals and other interested persons.

Over 270 Mended Hearts chapters exist where members meet regularly to provide support for patients and their family members. Trained Mended Hearts volunteers visit newly diagnosed patients in over 400 hospitals across the country. Other cardiac patient support groups may exist in your area. For information on these, contact your hospital social service department or the state or local department of social services.

For more information about the Mended Hearts chapter in your area or additional information on heart disease, contact your nearest American Heart Association office or call 1-800-AHA-USA1 (1-800-242-8721) or check on their website at www.americanheart.org.

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